The antitrust cases against Google in Europe could soon be multiplying: Lawyers for one of the complainants in the European Commission's antitrust action are setting up a platform to help companies file civil suits seeking damages from the search giant for anticompetitive behavior.

Even if the Commission wins its long-running antitrust battle with Google, the companies that complained about its business practices will get no redress for past wrongs, only undertakings that Google will change its behavior in the future.

Several of them, including comparison shopping site Foundem, one of the initial complainants, and mapping service Streetmap EU have already taken to the U.K. courts, seeking redress for what they allege is anticompetitive behavior on Google's part.

Now U.S. legal firm Hausfeld, which is representing Foundem in its case in the U.K. High Court, is setting up a group to help other companies evaluate their chances of winning damages in a case against Google.

GRIP, the Google Redress and Integrity Platform, set up with public affairs consultancy Avisa Partners, won't just focus on comparison shopping, the target of the Commission's statement of objections against Google, but will cover the whole range of Google services, including mapping, video, mobile operating systems and search.

The group has the indirect support of the Commission, which last year moved to make it easier for companies and individuals to bring private antitrust actions against companies in Europe.

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